Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis investigation of the thermal properties and degradation of some radiation‐grafted films and membranes

The influence of irradiation and grafting on the crystallinity of three base polymers has been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. Grafting has the largest effect on the base polymer crystallinity and results in a reduction of the crystallinity. The thermal degradation of the base polymers and grafted films has been investigated with thermogravimetric analysis. The extent of the fluorination of the base polymer, the irradiation method, and the graft level all influence the thermal degradation and its activation energy. It is proposed that the variation of the chain lengths of the grafted polystyrene chains is actually a primary underlying factor responsible for the influence of these various parameters on the degradation process. The first results of a comparative thermal analysis of some fuel‐cell membranes are also presented, and the promise and shortcomings of this method are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2612–2624, 2004     

Dextran-modified iron oxide nanoparticles

Dextran-modified iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation of Fe（Ⅱ） and Fe（Ⅲ） salts with ammonium hydroxide by two methods. Iron oxide was precipitated either in the presence of dextran solution, or the dextran solution was added after precipitation. In the second method, the iron oxide particle size and size distribution could be controlled depending on the concentration of dextran in the solution. The nanoparticles were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Optimal conditions for preparation of stable iron oxide colloid particles were determined, The dextran/iron oxide ratio 0-0,16 used in precipitation of iron salts can be recommended for synthesis of nanoparticles suitable for biomedical applications, as the colloid does not contain excess dextran and does not coagulate.     

Students' Verification Strategies for Combinatorial Problems

We focus on a major difficulty in solving combinatorial problems, namely, on the verification of a solution. Our study aimed at identifying undergraduate students' tendencies to verify their solutions, and the verification strategies that they employ when solving these problems. In addition, an attempt was made to evaluate the level of efficiency of the students' various verification strategies in terms of their contribution to reaching a correct solution. 14 undergraduate students, who had taken at least 1 course in combinatorics, participated in the study. None of the students had prior direct learning experience with combinatorial verification strategies. Data were collected through interviews with individual or pairs of participants as they solved, 1 by 1, 10 combinatorial problems. 5 types of verification strategies were identified, 2 of which were more frequent and more helpful than others. Students' verifications proved most efficient in terms of reaching a correct solution when they were informed that their solution was incorrect. Implications for teaching and learning combinatorics are discussed.     

Enthalpies of sorption of linear hydrocarbons (C2–C8) and chloroderivatives of methane and ethylene on the surface of hydrotalcite

Differential molar adsorption enthalpies (DMAE) were determined by gas chromatographic measurements of specific retention volume of vapors on the surface of two forms of Mg–Al hydrotalcite. A linear dependence of the DMAE on the number of the carbon atoms in hydrocarbons was observed for both form of hydrotalcite. The dependence of the differential molar adsorption enthalpies on the number of chlorine atoms in organic molecules is discussed. A linear dependence of DMAE on the molecular weight of chloroderivatives of methane and ethylene on the basic form in an order monochloromethane < dichloromethane < trichloromethane or vinylidene chloride < 1,1-dichloroethylene < trichloroethylene was found.     

Decoherence within a single atom

An “almost diagonal” reduced density matrix (in coordinate representation) is usually a result of environment induced decherence and is considered the sign of classical behavior. We show that the proton of a ground state hydrogen atom can indeed possess such a density matrix. This example demonstrates that the “almost diagonal” structure may be derived from an interaction with a low number of degrees of freedom which play the role of the environment. We also show that decoherence effects in our example can only be observed if the interaction with the measuring device is significantly faster than the interaction with the environment (the electron). In the opposite case, when the interaction with the environment is significant during the measurement process, coherence is maintained. Finally, we propose a neutron scattering experiment on cold He atoms to observe decoherence which shows up as an additional positive contribution to the differential scattering cross section. This contribution is inversely proportional to the bombarding energy.     

Separation of vibrational-electronic Hamiltonian in crude representation

A separation of the vibrational-electronic Hamiltonian in crude representation is presented. The separation is done in the following way: first we quantize only the electronic states on the unperturbed Hamiltonian level, then using the perturbation theory, we treat the terms where we have electronic operators to obtain new harmonic potential energy. Then we quantize a-posteriori the nuclear motion and as a result the only perturbation term is due to anharmonicity.     

Wind tunnel simulation of air pollution dispersion in a street canyon

Physical simulation was used to study pollution dispersion in a street canyon. The street canyon model was designed to study the effect of measuring flow and concentration fields. A method of C02-laser photoacoustic spectrometry was applied for detection of trace concentration of gas pollution. The advantage of this method is its high sensitivity and broad dynamic range, permitting monitoring of concentrations from trace to saturation values. Application of this method enabled us to propose a simple model based on line permeation pollutant source, developed on the principle of concentration standards, to ensure high precision and homogeneity of the concentration flow. Spatial measurement of the concentration distribution inside the street canyon was performed on the model with reference velocity of 1.5 m/s.     

Intercalation of Dyes Containing SO3H Groups into Zn–Al Layered Double Hydroxide

The intercalates of Naphthol Yellow S, Tropaeolin 000, and Tropaeolin 00 were prepared by heating [Zn_0.67Al_0.33(OH)₂](CO₃)_0.165 · 0.5H₂O with acidic forms of the dye solutions in an open reaction vessel. The intercalates were characterized by chemical and thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and UV–VIS spectroscopy. A possible arrangement of the dye molecules in the intercalates was suggested on the basis of their chemical compositions and interlayer distances, by taking into account van der Waals dimensions of the guest molecules and by assuming that the structure of the host layers is not changed during the intercalation process.